Sand Dunes in Mui Ne

Mui Ne 002, originally uploaded by philippebierny.

Travel to Mui Ne, every day in the morning and late afternoon, children and adults alike gather at the yellow sand dunes in Mui Ne in Phan Thiet to fly their colorful kites for fun at dawn or sunset while viewing the far away ocean and the shining sand.

They usually run up and down the sand dunes for several seconds to give their kites a good start before flying high in the sky. On windy days, there's no need to run, just stand still on top of the dunes as strong winds blow the kites as high as people can see.

Flying high in the sky are many kites in the shapes of bats, butterflies, dragons and other figures in black, red, yellow, orange and the combination of different colors.

As usual, people fly kites of different colors and big sizes so that they can see them in the very far distance, especially when the sun has gone down the western horizon.

Travel to Mui Ne, you can bring your own kites to the sand dunes for them to blow in the wind or you can buy the kite of your choice from an old man who does not want to tell visitors his true name but asks them to call him "the man who sells kites."

The man sells his kites for VND25,000 (US$1.50) to VND70,000 (US$4.30), and of course offers discounts to good bargainers. The most expensive kite is the bat-shaped one in black that the man says is an imported product and made of durable fabric so it can withstand very strong winds. However, this black kite does not look distinctive from other flying kites, particularly when the darkness pervades the sky.

It is easy to find the man. Just go up to the sand dunes from the trunk road from the heart of Phan Thiet City to Mui Ne, and the kite seller often stands or sits near several trees that grow well on the dry sand dunes.

To satisfy your passion for flying a kite above sand dunes and stunning ocean views, you will pass through a group of children who closely follow and ask you to rent their plastic boards to ski from the top of the sand dunes to the bottom.

If this is not your cup of tea, keep going up the dunes to buy the kite you like and the children will disperse when they know your real interest.

Remember that bigger kites fly higher, as the kite seller says. One thing you should bear in mind is a kite that is made of durable fabric will not be torn by strong winds.

Travel to Mui Ne Vietnam, you can see kite flying is a common hobby of many Vietnamese children, particularly those in the countryside. On windy and beautiful afternoons, children go to the fields near their homes to fly kites that they have usually make themselves for fun or to mingle with the dreams of flying in reality.

(Source: SGT)